Religion:Legends of the Jews

Legends of the Jews

Author	Louis Ginzberg
Translator	Henrietta Szold
Country	United States
Language	German English
Subject	Biblical legends
Genre	Legend, religion
Published	1909

Legends of the Jews is a chronological compilation of aggadah from hundreds of biblical legends in Mishnah, Talmud and Midrash. The compilation consists of seven volumes (four volumes of narrative texts and two volumes of footnotes with a volume of index) synthesized by Louis Ginzberg in manuscript of German language. In 1913, it was translated by Henrietta Szold.

Table of Contents

Volume I: From the Creation to Jacob

• Chapter I: The Creation of the World

The First Things Created - The Alphabet - The First Day - The Second Day - The Third Day - The Fourth Day - The Fifth Day - The Sixth Day - All Things Praise the Lord

• Chapter II: Adam

Man and the World - The Angels and the Creation of Man - The Creation of Adam - The Soul of Man - The Ideal Man - The Fall of Satan - Woman - Adam and Eve in Paradise - The Fall of Man - The Punishment - Sabbath in Heaven - Adam's Repentance - The Book of Raziel - The Sickness of Adam - Eve's Story of the Fall - The Death of Adam - The Death of Eve

• Chapter III: The Ten Generations

The Birth of Cain - Fratricide - The Punishment of Cain - The Inhabitants of the Seven Earths - The Descendants of Cain - The Descendants of Adam and Lilith - Seth and His Descendants - Enosh - The Fall of the Angels - Enoch, Ruler and Teacher - The Ascension of Enoch - The Translation of Enoch - Methuselah

• Chapter IV: Noah

The Birth of Noah - The Punishment of the Fallen Angels - The Generation of the Deluge - The Holy Book - The Inmates of the Ark - The Flood - Noah Leaves the Ark - The Curse of Drunkenness - Noah's Descendants Spread Abroad - The Depravity of Mankind - Nimrod - The Tower of Babel

• Chapter V: Abraham

The Wicked Generations - The Birth of Abraham - The Babe Proclaims God - Abraham's First Appearance in Public - The Preacher of the True Faith - In the Fiery Furnace - Abraham Emigrates to Haran - The Star in the East - The True Believer - The Iconoclast - Abraham in Canaan - His Sojourn in Egypt - The First Pharaoh - The War of the Kings - The Covenant of the Pieces - The Birth of Ishmael - The Visit of the Angels - The Cities of Sin - Abraham Pleads for the Sinners - The Destruction of the Sinful Cities - Among the Philistines - The Birth of Isaac - Ishmael Cast Off - The Two Wives of Ishmael - The Covenant with Abimelech - Satan Accuses Abraham - The Journey to Moriah - The Akedah - The Death and Burial of Sarah - Eliezer's Mission - The Wooing of Rebekah - The Last Years of Abraham - A Herald of Death - Abraham Views Earth and Heaven - The Patron of Hebron

• Chapter VI: Jacob

The Birth of Esau and Jacob - The Favorite of Abraham - The Sale of the Birthright - Isaac with the Philistines - Isaac Blesses Jacob - Esau's True Character Revealed - Jacob Leaves His Father's House - Jacob Pursued by Eliphaz and Esau - The Day of Miracles - Jacob with Laban - The Marriage of Jacob - The Birth of Jacob's Children - Jacob Flees before Laban - The Covenant with Laban - Jacob and Esau Prepare to Meet - Jacob Wrestles with the Angel - The Meeting between Esau and Jacob - The Outrage at Shechem - A War Frustrated - The War with the Ninevites - The War with the Amorites - Isaac Blesses Levi and Judah - Joy and Sorrow in the House of Jacob - Esau's Campaign against Jacob - The Descendants of Esau

Volume II: From Joseph to the Exodus

• Chapter I: Joseph

The Favorite Son - Joseph Hated by His Brethren - Joseph Cast into the Pit - The Sale - Joseph's Three Masters - Joseph's Coat Brought to His Father - Judah and His Sons - The Wives of the Sons of Jacob - Joseph the Slave of Potiphar - Joseph and Zuleika - Joseph Resists Temptation - Joseph in Prison - Pharaoh's Dreams - Joseph before Pharaoh - The Ruler of Egypt - Joseph's Brethren in Egypt - Joseph Meets His Brethren - The Second Journey to Egypt - Joseph and Benjamin - The Thief Caught - Judah Pleads and Threatens - Joseph Makes Himself Known - Jacob Receives the Glad Tidings - Jacob Arrives in Egypt - Joseph's Kindness and Generosity - Jacob's Last Wish - The Blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh - The Blessing of the Twelve Tribes - The Death of Jacob - The Sons of Jacob at War with the Sons of Esau - Zepho King of Kittim - The Nations at War - Joseph's Magnanimity - Asenath - The Marriage of Joseph - Kind and Unkind Brethren - Treachery Punished - The Death and Burial of Joseph

• Chapter II: The Sons of Jacob

Significant Names - Reuben's Testament - Simon's Admonition against Envy - The Ascension of Levi - Judah Warns against Greed and Unchastity - Issachar's Singleness of Heart - Zebulon Exhorts unto Compassion - Dan's Confession - Naphtali's Dreams of the Division of the Tribes - Gad's Hatred - Asher's Last Words - Benjamin Extols Joseph

• Chapter III: Job

Job and the Patriarchs - Job's Wealth and Benefactions - Satan and Job - Job's Suffering - The Four Friends - Job Restored

• Chapter IV: Moses in Egypt

The Beginning of the Egyptian Bondage - Pharaoh's Cunning - The Pious Midwives - The Three Counsellors - The Slaughter of the Innocents - The Parents of Moses - The Birth of Moses - Moses Rescued from the Water - The Infancy of Moses - Moses Rescued by Gabriel - The Youth of Moses - The Flight - The King of Ethiopia - Jethro - Moses Marries Zipporah - A Bloody Remedy - The Faithful Shepherd - The Burning Thorn-bush - The Ascension of Moses - Moses Visits Paradise and Hell - Moses Declines the Mission - Moses Punished for His Stubbornness - The Return to Egypt - Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh - The Suffering Increases - Measure for Measure - The Plagues Brought through Aaron - The Plagues Brought through Moses - The First Passover - The Smiting of the First-born - The Redemption of Israel from Egyptian Bondage - The Exodus

Volume III: From the Exodus to the Death of Moses

• Chapter I

The Long Route - Pharaoh Pursues the Hebrews - The Sea Divided - The Passage through the Red Sea - The Destruction of the Egyptians - The Song at the Sea - The Awful Desert - The Heavenly Food - The Gathering of the Manna - Miriam' s Well - Amalek's War against Israel - Amalek Defeated - Jethro

• Chapter II

Installation of Elders - Jethro Rewarded - The Time is at Hand - The Gentiles Refuse the Torah - The Contest of the Mountains - The Torah Offered to Israel - Israel Prepares for the Revelation - The Revelation on Mount Sinai - The First Commandment - The Other Commandments Revealed on Sinai - The Unity of the Ten Commandments - Moses Chosen as Intermediator - Moses and the Angels Strive for the Torah - Moses Receives the Torah - The Golden Calf - Moses Blamed for Israel's Sin - The Punishment of the Sinners - Moses Intercedes for the People - The Inscrutable Ways of the Lord - The Thirteen Attributes of God - The Second Tables - The Census of the People - The Erection of the Tabernacle Commanded

• Chapter III

The Materials for the Construction of the Tabernacle - Bezalel - The Ark with the Cherubim - The Table and the Candlestick - The Altar - The Symbolical Significance of the Tabernacle - The Priestly Robes - The Stones in the Breastplate - The Completion of the Tabernacle - The Setting up of the Tabernacle - The Consecration of the Priests - The Day of the Ten Crowns - The Interrupted Joy - The Gifts of the Princes - The Revelations in the Tabernacle - The Cleansing of the Camp - The Lighting of the Candlestick

• Chapter IV

The Twelve Princes of the Tribes - The Census of the Levites - The Four Divisions of the Levites - The Four Standards - The Camp - The Blasphemer and the Sabbath-breaker - The Ungrateful Multitude - The Flesh-pots of Egypt - The Appointment of the Seventy Elders - Eldad and Medad - The Quails - Aaron and Miriam Slander Moses - Miriam's Punishment - The Sending of the Spies - Significant Names - The Spies in Palestine - The Slanderous Report - The Night of Tears - Ingratitude Punished - The Years of Disfavor

• Chapter V

The Rebellion of Korah - Korah Abuses Moses and the Torah - Moses Pleads in Vain with Korah - Korah and His Horde Punished - On and the Three Sons of Korah Saved - Israel Convinced of Aaron's Priesthood - The Waters of Meribah - Moses' Anger Causes His Doom - Edom's Unbrotherly Attitude toward Israel - The Three Shepherds - Preparing Aaron for Impending Death - Aaron's Death - The General Mourning for Aaron - The False Friends - The Brazen Serpent - At Arnon - Sihon, the King of the Amorites - The Giant Og - Moses' Speech of Admonition - Balak, King of Moab

• Chapter VI

Balaam, the Heathen Prophet - Balak's Messengers to Balaam - Balaam Accepts Balak's Invitation - Baiaam's Ass - Balaam Runs into His Own Destruction - Balaam with Balak - Balaam's Sacrifices Refused - Balaam Extols Israel - Balaam's Hopes Disappointed - Curses Turned into Blessings - Balaam's Wicked Counsel - Phinehas, Zealous for God - Twelve Miracles - Phinehas Rewarded - The Daughters of Zelophmehad - The appointment of Joshua - Moses' Legacy to Joshua - Moses' last campaign - The Complete Annihilation of Midian - The Gruesome End of Balaam - The Victorious Return from the War - Wealth that Bringeth Destruction - Moses' Death Irrevocably Doomed - Moses Prayer for Suspension of Judgment - God Tries to Comfort Moses Concerning His Death - The Intercessions for Moses - Moses Serves Joshua

• Chapter VII

The Last Day of Moses' Life - Moses Beholds the Future - Moses Meets the Messiah in Heaven - The Last Hours of Moses The Blessing of Moses - Moses Prays for Death - Samuel Chastised by Moses - God Kisses Moses' Soul - The Mourning for Moses - Samuel's Vain Search - Moses Excels All Pious Men

Volume IV: From Joshua to Esther

• Chapter I: Joshua

The Servant of Moses - Entering the Promised Land - Conquest of the Land - The Sun Obeys Joshua - War with the Armenians - Allotment of the Land.

• Chapter II: The Judges

The First Judge - Campaigns of Kenas - Othniel - Boaz and Ruth - Deborah - Gideon - Jephthah - Samson - The Crime of the Crime of the Benjamites.

• Chapter III: Samuel and Saul

Elkanah and Hannah - The Youth of Samuel - Eli and His Sons - The Activities of Samuel - The Reign of Saul - The Court of Saul

• Chapter IV: David

David's Birth and Descent - Anointed King - Encounter with Goliath - Pursued by Saul - Wars - Ahithophel - Joab - David's Piety and His Sin - Absalom's Rebellion - David's Atonement - Visitations - The Death of David - David in Paradise - The Family of David - His Tomb

• Chapter V: Solomon

Solomon Punishes Joab - The Marriage of Solomon - His Wisdom - The Queen of Sheba - Solomon Master of the Demons - The Building of the Temple - The Throne of Solomon - The Hippodrome - Lessons in Humility - Asmodeus - Solomon as Beggar - The Court of Solomo

• Chapter VI: Judah and Israel

The Division of the Kingdom - Jeroboam - The Two Ahijabs - Asa - Jehoshaphat and Ahab - Jezebel - Joram of Israel

• Chapter VII: Elijah

Elijah before His Translation - After His Translation - Censor and Avenger - Intercourse with the Sages - God's Justice Vindicated - Elijah and the Angel of Death - Teacher of the Kabbalah - Forerunner of the Messiah

• Chapter VIII: Elisha and Jonah

Elisha the Disciple of Elijah - The Shunammite - Gehazi - The Flight of Jonah Jonah in the Whale - The Repentance of Nineveh

• Chapter IX: The Later Kings of Judah

Joash - Three Great Prophets - The Two Kingdoms Chastised - Hezekiah - Miracles Wrought for Hezekiah - Manasseh - Josiah and His Successors

• Chapter X: The Exile

Zedekiah - Jeremiah - Nebuchadnezzar - The Capture of Jerusalem - The Great Lament - Jeremiah's Journey to Babylon - Transportation of the Captives - The Sons of Moses - Ebed melech - The Temple Vessels - Baruch - The Tombs of Baruch and Ezekiel - Daniel - The Three Men in the Furnace - Ezekiel Revives the Dead - Nebuchadnezzar a Beast - Hiram - The False Prophets - Daniel's Piety

• Chapter XI: The Return of the Captivity

Belshazzar's Feast - Daniel under the Persian Kings - The Grave of Daniel - Zerubbabel - Ezra - The Men of the Great Assembly

• Chapter XII: Esther

The Feast for the Grandees - The Festivities in Shushan - Vashti's Banquet - The Fate of Vashti - The Follies of Ahasuerus - Mordecai - Esther's Beauty and Piety - The Conspiracy - Haman the Jew-baiter - Mordecai's Pride - Casting the Lots - The Denunciation of the Jews - The Decree of Annihilation - Satan Indicts the Jews - The Dream of Mordecai Fulfilled - The Prayer of Esther - Esther Intercedes - The Disturbed Night - The Fall of Haman - The Edict of the King

See also

• Louis Ginzberg
• Jewish folklore

Bibliography

• The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg
• Legends of the Jews (PDF)